Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an ecosystem, including the number of different species and their relative abundance. High biodiversity indicates a healthy, resilient ecosystem.
📊 Simpson's Diversity Index
A mathematical measure that accounts for both species richness (how many species) and evenness (how balanced their populations are). Values range from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater diversity.
🛡️ Ecosystem Resilience
Diverse ecosystems are more stable and better able to withstand disturbances like climate change, invasive species, or disease outbreaks. Each species plays a unique role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
💡 Why It Matters
Understanding biodiversity helps us make informed decisions about conservation, land management, and predicting ecosystem responses to environmental changes.
D = 1 - Σ(n/N)²
where n = individuals per species, N = total individuals
Compare biodiversity between two ecological communities
Community A
Count Individuals
Calculate (n/N)²
Species
Your (n/N)²
Simpson's Index
✓
✓
Result
-
Community B
Count Individuals
Calculate (n/N)²
Species
Your (n/N)²
Simpson's Index
✓
✓
Result
-
Phase 4: Compare and Interpret
Great Job!
Simpson's Diversity Index Formula: D = 1 - Σ(n/N)²
where n = number of individuals of each species, N = total number of individuals